The new Lamborghini Urus SE Performante delivers more power, improved aerodynamics and more advanced chassis technology than the Urus SE. But Lamborghini could have made it about 220 pounds lighter and deliberately chose not to, preserving the comfort and practicality expected from an Urus.

Lighter Than the Urus SE, But Heavier Than Its Predecessor

Speaking at the car’s unveiling at the Goodwood Fesatival of Speed last month, Stefano Cossalter, Lamborghini’s Urus Product Line Director, said removing another 100 kilograms would be technically possible. The trade-off, however, would be a less comfortable vehicle.

“I can easily take out of this car 100 kilos,” Cossalter said. Installing “super-racing seats,” he explained, would quickly reduce the weight, but “you lose the comfort.”

“That’s the point,” Cossalter added. “You need to find the balance.”

That balance is more difficult with the new Performante because it is based on the plug-in hybrid Urus SE. The 25.9-kWh battery, electric motor and related hardware add substantial weight compared with the previous gasoline-only Urus Performante.

The Urus SE Performante has a homologated curb weight of 5,452 pounds, making it 71 pounds lighter than the standard Urus SE. The previous Performante weighed about 4,740 pounds, so the new model carries roughly 700 additional pounds despite using more carbon fiber than any Urus before it.

The added weight is offset by considerably more power. The 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 and electric motor produce 801 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. The regular Urus SE produces 789 hp, while the previous Performante made 657 hp and 627 lb-ft without hybrid assistance.

Despite the weight increase, the new Performante matches its predecessor’s 3.3-second sprint from zero to 62 mph. Top speed increases from 190 to 194 mph.

As previously reported, Cossalter also confirmed that Lamborghini’s proposed fourth model, previously presented as the electric Lanzador concept, is now expected to become a hybrid grand tourer. The Performante demonstrates why Lamborghini currently favors hybrid power: electrification adds weight, but it also provides more power and greater control over how that performance reaches the road.

Lamborghini Found Six Pounds Using New Upholstery

Lamborghini removed weight from almost every area of the Performante without turning it into an uncomfortable track special.

The carbon-fiber hood, roof, wheel arches, side skirts and rear diffuser contribute to the overall 71-pound saving over the Urus SE. A standard titanium Akrapovič exhaust removes more than 22 pounds, while the new Integrated Power Brake system saves nine pounds. Revisions to the noise-insulation package cut another seven pounds.

Even the upholstery was redesigned with weight savings in mind. The standard cabin replaces full leather with Lamborghini’s Corsa Tex by Dinamica material, a microsuede-like technical fabric that saves 2.7 kilograms, or almost six pounds.

“We introduced the Corsa Tex, which is our material,” Cossalter said. “It makes it more sporty and it’s lighter than leather.” Asked how much it saves, he replied: “Between two and three kilos.”

Six pounds may seem small for an SUV weighing more than two and a half tons, but the Performante’s weight reduction comes from dozens of similarly small improvements. Customers can still specify a full leather interior, although doing so adds back some of the weight Lamborghini removed.

A Different Approach From the Old Performante

The previous Urus Performante replaced air suspension with lower, firmer steel springs. The new model returns to air suspension while introducing a more advanced dual-chamber system that can independently manage compression and rebound.

Lamborghini says the system reduces body roll by 55 percent and cuts comfort-related vibrations by 25 percent compared with the previous Performante. That allows the new car to be sharper in Corsa mode without making it unnecessarily punishing in Strada.

A six-dimensional sensor derived from the limited-production Fenomeno monitors pitch, roll, yaw and movement across three axes. Eight accelerometers track the wheels and body, feeding information to the new braking and chassis control systems.

Cossalter said the hardware allows the Performante to stop seven meters, or almost 23 feet, sooner than the Urus SE in repeated braking tests from 124 mph.

More Downforce With Less Drag

The Performante also receives substantial aerodynamic changes. It generates 23 percent more downforce than the Urus SE and 16 percent more than the previous Performante, while producing three percent less drag than the standard hybrid.

Revised ducts also improve brake cooling by eight percent.

Why Lamborghini Stopped Short of a 220-Pound Diet

The result is not the lightest Urus Lamborghini could build. Instead, it is the lightest version Cossalter believes customers would still want to use every day.

Owners expect to commute, carry their children and load the trunk for a weekend away. Lamborghini could strip another 220 pounds from the Performante, but doing so would also remove much of the comfort and practicality that make the Urus what customers expect it to be.

What should the next version prioritize: lower weight, more power, or daily comfort?